ACTion Programs for Animals Adoption Center — Local services in Las Cruces

I visited twice, once looking for a companion for my best friend's son and a week later looking for a cat for me. The animals seemed very well cared for and I was impressed, so I was excited to talk about adopting a cat. I've been grieving the loss of my other cats and I just moved into the area.

For some reason, they didn't think we were a good home for a pet. I honestly have no idea why other than stereotyping. I have lived with cats my whole life and I have volunteered at other animal shelters since I was a kid. We have a teen who loves animals, who ended up picking a fancy parakeet he named Banana, and his mom takes care of her 2 guinea pigs. So, I just wanted my own furball. Not sure what their reservations were when we visited. We put a lot of thought into what pets we wanted so they could all coexist happily.

I was pretty bummed because it was my birthday and I was hoping to find a furry pal. But after being rejected I ended up visiting The Cats Meow and finding a companion there. Those people were friendly and trusting, and I was very happy meeting my new cat, Maya Lilly. Between three people in the house, Maya will be very spoiled and happy. I hope APA improves on their prejudice and figures out how to determine a good family beyond whatever preconceived assumptions they make.

I also filled out volunteer applications at both adoption centers, but I don't think I'd feel comfortable volunteering at this one. I do agree that they love their animals and treat them very well, so it's a shame they can't extend that to diverse family models full of people who also...

I wanted to take my time to express my family situation we were excited to adopt a small dog after a pet loss in our family, the way these place is was really disappointing. The first time I spoke to her she explained the process and asked what can you do to be a better candidate and she simply response I can’t tell you that but her tone of voice was like if I was asking something forbidden. When we got there Denise was very judgmental on how you look and for your ethnicity. She didn’t like I filled the application for my mother since she only spoke Spanish. The last encounter was when we had a meet and greet with our dog, Denise made a comment on my dogs breathing, granted he has had medical issues and we have done the right thing by taking him to vets and give him the right treatment but chronic lung disease is hard to come from, also not to mention we where the first people applying for this dog to be adopted and yes it was mentioned that didn’t guarantee anything. My sister would go and see her and visit her often for them to choose another family. They tell you not to buy a pet but this makes it even harder not to do so. Thanks to people like this is why we resort to buy and not adopt because they make it almost impossible and with a fee of $100. If they consider a family with the biggest donation than it’s more like a bid. I would like for them to disclose what takes them to...

Heartless employees at APA Las Cruces turned away 4 kittens today. The kittens were on antibiotics after being seen by the vet at the Animal Hospital for an upper respiratory infection. They're still healing and one needs its eye removed, but when the employees saw them they got spooked and showed absolutely zero compassion for them. I had gone there after a volunteer had said that the staff would probably do an intake. They didn't ask how old the kittens were, how they were doing, or anything. Again, I was shocked. The manager, Nora, told me that they didn't know the volunteer who had referred me there or even bothered to check a volunteer list. Again, no questions about the kittens' well-being, they just kept saying, "We don't know that volunteer... we don't know anything." In a nutshell -- they just didn't want me there and the kittens -- so I walked out feeling like I had totally wasted my time. Shame on those employees for how they treat people and the animals they supposedly "care" about. The hypocrisy...